You gotta be kidding me
#1
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You gotta be kidding me
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireS...rease-24192721
Senators Propose 12-Cent Gas Tax Increase
Two senators unveiled a bipartisan plan Wednesday to raise federal gasoline and diesel taxes for the first time in more than two decades, pitching the proposal as a solution to Congress' struggle to pay for highway and transit programs.
The plan offered by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., would raise the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4 cents-a-gallon diesel tax each by 12 cents over the next two years, and then index the taxes to keep pace with inflation. The increase would be applied in two increments of 6 cents each.
The plan also calls for offsetting the tax increases with other tax cuts. Senators said that could be done by permanently extending six of 50 federal tax breaks that expired this year, but they indicated they would be open to other suggestions for offsets.
The plan was immediately embraced by industry and transportation advocacy groups seeking a long-term means to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent. However, it would require a lot of heavy lifting from Congress in the politically charged atmosphere of an election year to pass such a plan before late August, when the trust fund is forecast to go broke.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has indicated he's looking for means to shore up the fund for about the next six months while working on a long-term plan. That would move debate on a gas tax increase or some other revenue-raising scheme until after the midterm elections in November.
Revenue from gas taxes and other transportation user fees that for decades hasn't kept pace with promised federal transportation aid promised to states. People are driving less per capita and cars are more fuel efficient, keeping revenues fairly flat. At the same time, the cost of construction has increased, and the nation's infrastructure is aging, creating greater demand for new and rebuilt roads and bridges.
The last time federal gas and diesel taxes were increased was in 1993 as part of plan to reduce the federal budget deficit. Republicans castigated Democrats for the tax increase, and it was a factor in the GOP takeover of the House and Senate the following year.
Since then, lawmakers have been reluctant to raise fuel taxes despite calls from several blue-ribbon commissions to do so.
"For too long, Congress has shied away from taking serious action to update our country's aging infrastructure," Murphy said in a statement. "We're currently facing a transportation crisis that will only get worse if we don't take bold action to fund the Highway Trust Fund."
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, who attempted to increase the gas tax increase in 2010, said he was glad to see the idea "gaining more bipartisan support."
Since 2008, Congress has repeatedly dipped into the general treasury for money to keep the trust fund solvent, sometimes waiting until the government was the verge of slowing down payments to states. States have complained that the uncertainty over whether federal aid will be forthcoming has limited their ability to commit to larger projects that take years to plan and construct.
"Congress should be embarrassed that it has played chicken with the Highway Trust Fund and allowed it to become one of the largest budgeting failures in the federal government," Corker said.
The six expired tax breaks identified by the senators as possible offsets for fuel tax increases are a research and development tax credit, certain expensing by small businesses, the state and local sales tax deduction, increasing employer-provided transit benefits to the same level as parking benefits, a deduction for spending by teachers on classroom supplies, and an increased deduction for land conservation and easement donations.
The anti-tax Club for Growth, which is influential with GOP conservatives, issued a statement opposing the plan. Congress should "devolve highway funding to the states and let them fund their own infrastructure needs," said Chris Chocola, the group's president.
Senators Propose 12-Cent Gas Tax Increase
Two senators unveiled a bipartisan plan Wednesday to raise federal gasoline and diesel taxes for the first time in more than two decades, pitching the proposal as a solution to Congress' struggle to pay for highway and transit programs.
The plan offered by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., would raise the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4 cents-a-gallon diesel tax each by 12 cents over the next two years, and then index the taxes to keep pace with inflation. The increase would be applied in two increments of 6 cents each.
The plan also calls for offsetting the tax increases with other tax cuts. Senators said that could be done by permanently extending six of 50 federal tax breaks that expired this year, but they indicated they would be open to other suggestions for offsets.
The plan was immediately embraced by industry and transportation advocacy groups seeking a long-term means to keep the federal Highway Trust Fund solvent. However, it would require a lot of heavy lifting from Congress in the politically charged atmosphere of an election year to pass such a plan before late August, when the trust fund is forecast to go broke.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has indicated he's looking for means to shore up the fund for about the next six months while working on a long-term plan. That would move debate on a gas tax increase or some other revenue-raising scheme until after the midterm elections in November.
Revenue from gas taxes and other transportation user fees that for decades hasn't kept pace with promised federal transportation aid promised to states. People are driving less per capita and cars are more fuel efficient, keeping revenues fairly flat. At the same time, the cost of construction has increased, and the nation's infrastructure is aging, creating greater demand for new and rebuilt roads and bridges.
The last time federal gas and diesel taxes were increased was in 1993 as part of plan to reduce the federal budget deficit. Republicans castigated Democrats for the tax increase, and it was a factor in the GOP takeover of the House and Senate the following year.
Since then, lawmakers have been reluctant to raise fuel taxes despite calls from several blue-ribbon commissions to do so.
"For too long, Congress has shied away from taking serious action to update our country's aging infrastructure," Murphy said in a statement. "We're currently facing a transportation crisis that will only get worse if we don't take bold action to fund the Highway Trust Fund."
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, who attempted to increase the gas tax increase in 2010, said he was glad to see the idea "gaining more bipartisan support."
Since 2008, Congress has repeatedly dipped into the general treasury for money to keep the trust fund solvent, sometimes waiting until the government was the verge of slowing down payments to states. States have complained that the uncertainty over whether federal aid will be forthcoming has limited their ability to commit to larger projects that take years to plan and construct.
"Congress should be embarrassed that it has played chicken with the Highway Trust Fund and allowed it to become one of the largest budgeting failures in the federal government," Corker said.
The six expired tax breaks identified by the senators as possible offsets for fuel tax increases are a research and development tax credit, certain expensing by small businesses, the state and local sales tax deduction, increasing employer-provided transit benefits to the same level as parking benefits, a deduction for spending by teachers on classroom supplies, and an increased deduction for land conservation and easement donations.
The anti-tax Club for Growth, which is influential with GOP conservatives, issued a statement opposing the plan. Congress should "devolve highway funding to the states and let them fund their own infrastructure needs," said Chris Chocola, the group's president.
#3
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if my work was only a few miles, i'd ged rid of the RD and get a tomos targa or a bike.
damn inter-county work trips daily.
this should really expose the dumb sucker's that want an suv instead of really needing one.
my g4gm 1.8 get's 330MPT.. on 11 gallons of fuel..but it's like the engine saying the first 4000rpms are for fuel economy since i have nearly no torque, and the remaining rpm to 6000 rpm is for "thrash and thou shall receive 117 horsepower at the wheels!
damn inter-county work trips daily.
this should really expose the dumb sucker's that want an suv instead of really needing one.
my g4gm 1.8 get's 330MPT.. on 11 gallons of fuel..but it's like the engine saying the first 4000rpms are for fuel economy since i have nearly no torque, and the remaining rpm to 6000 rpm is for "thrash and thou shall receive 117 horsepower at the wheels!
#4
Super Moderator
They haven't raised this tax in a generation. IF it could be guaranteed to go where the most people use it (roads) I could maybe go along, even with as steep a hike as this.
But they'll blow it on choo-choo trains in city centers and articulated buses, if recent activity in central Texas is an indication. F that. Double-deck my congested highways, maybe. Trains to nowhere, no thanks.
But they'll blow it on choo-choo trains in city centers and articulated buses, if recent activity in central Texas is an indication. F that. Double-deck my congested highways, maybe. Trains to nowhere, no thanks.
#5
Super Moderator
Just pisses me off when we're told to conserve (gas, water, energy, etc...) and then when we do, the price goes up because less consumption = less revenue. Happened to my water bill and my power bill. Both utilities said that due to lower consumption, they didn't meet their projected revenues and need more money for infrastructure improvements.
BTW, a few States (and the feds won't be far behind) started charging electric vehicle owners a flat tax at registration that gas and diesel vehicles don't pay because they use the roads and don't pay and fuel taxes.
The whole "punish good behavior" thing is getting on my nerves.
BTW, a few States (and the feds won't be far behind) started charging electric vehicle owners a flat tax at registration that gas and diesel vehicles don't pay because they use the roads and don't pay and fuel taxes.
The whole "punish good behavior" thing is getting on my nerves.
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f*cking Corker. I'm e-mailing him now. Third time this week.
Last week they had news articles flying about taxing miles driven on an annual basis (car registration period) since they're losing so much revenue at the pump as a result of more fuel efficient vehicles. So, why not do both? f*cking idiots.
I know they've talked about taxing mileage before, since cars that share the road provide wear and tear regardless of fuel efficiency, but it seems to have ramped up again as of late.
Again, f*cking Corker. smh...
Last week they had news articles flying about taxing miles driven on an annual basis (car registration period) since they're losing so much revenue at the pump as a result of more fuel efficient vehicles. So, why not do both? f*cking idiots.
I know they've talked about taxing mileage before, since cars that share the road provide wear and tear regardless of fuel efficiency, but it seems to have ramped up again as of late.
Again, f*cking Corker. smh...
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Vehicle: MC + RD2 + AW11 + 944 = 4x Win
Basically our elected officials saying (once again):
Meh, inflation's a b*tch. However since cars are so efficient now and the cost of gas is so high, I fail to see how this is going to change anything at the pump. a 12ยข difference isn't going to be noticed. That's the hourly change at times. But seriously, it's a buck - $1.50 per tank. I pay more than that when I pop for ethanol free. I fail to see how this changes much at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means in support of it, but I don't think this is the line however. It's been 21 years since the last hike, and gas costs 3.5x as much now. 12ยข? Meh. It sounds more like a red hearing and something really serous is about to happen that they want to distracts the public from.
Meh, inflation's a b*tch. However since cars are so efficient now and the cost of gas is so high, I fail to see how this is going to change anything at the pump. a 12ยข difference isn't going to be noticed. That's the hourly change at times. But seriously, it's a buck - $1.50 per tank. I pay more than that when I pop for ethanol free. I fail to see how this changes much at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means in support of it, but I don't think this is the line however. It's been 21 years since the last hike, and gas costs 3.5x as much now. 12ยข? Meh. It sounds more like a red hearing and something really serous is about to happen that they want to distracts the public from.